By Darren Lum
Published June 5 2018

Everybody loves to win but the value of an experience comes from how it leaves you.

The senior girls’ Red Hawks soccer team is not despondent despite losing by more than six goals to Nicholson Catholic College in the semi-finals at the COSSA (Central Ontario Secondary School Athletics) championships for A schools.

There is sense of satisfaction and eye on the future for head coach Amy Klose.

“Their winning record says a lot for the team this year” she said referring to the regular and post-season totals. The team finished its season 4-2-1. No small feat for a program that only up until a few years ago had trouble scoring let alone finishing with a winning record.

“So great season. We continued to learn [up until the end] even. Last night we worked on a ton of positional and passing drills and you could see they worked on that. They were working on passing and playing their position really really well” she said.

Recognizing their opponents were going to be stronger than their Kawartha opponents the team adopted a greater emphasis defence instead of its offensive tendencies.

“They really did hold it well through the first half” she said referring to the team being able to hold Nicholson to just two goals.

Much of the defensive strength comes from Arden Harrop in the backfield who played a “fantastic game.”

“She’s just been everywhere on defence with lots of speed and lots of accuracy so that was awesome” she said.

Klose adds midfielder Maya Meraw and backfielder Emily Klose also deserve credit.

Unlike the junior squad who had several extra players the seniors had just two substitutions including Abby Gordon.

This tournament featured the best senior and junior soccer teams in the COSSA region. There were representatives from Kawartha and Quinte regions (Belleville and Trenton).

After Nicholson beat Haliburton they ended up advancing as the COSSA entry to the all-provincials with a 2-nil win over Trenton’s St. Paul Catholic Secondary School.

The team is expecting to lose Gordon Kailynn Sikma Klose Ali Paul Emma Scheffee and Claire Karaguesian to graduation. However the coaching staff of Amy Klose and Doug Sullivan are already preparing for next season ready to improve.

“We have a ton of returning players and lots to work with next year. Doug and I already have our list started of things we’re going to work on next year” she said. “I think winning a few games this year changes how they feel about it and these girls will continue to grow next year. We got a strong group of juniors as well. There are lots of girls with great ball control so we look good for next year. We’ll actually be stronger next year than this year.”